Step 1 in the breastfeeding basics was to do your homework. Hopefully you have found an intro to breastfeeding class, you’ve been on youtube searching latching tutorials and instructional videos and you’ve picked up a few breastfeeding books. While you’re sitting at home twiddling your thumbs anxiously awaiting your little one’s arrival do yourself a favor and actually flip through that book and educate yourself on what to expect.
Step 2 is to deliver your baby and nurse him/her as soon as you can. Studies have shown that infants who nursed soon after birth had a longer duration of breastfeeding than infants who were first put to breast 3 to 6 hours after birth ( Taylor, 1986 ). Infants who had skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding immediately after birth were able to recognize the smell of their mothers own milk more readily at 4 days of age than were infants who had no skin-to skin contact and breastfeeding immediately after birth. They also had longer breastfeeding duration. This recognition of maternal milk odor may be related to successful breastfeeding ( Mizuno, 2004 ). Further, babies that had this early and immediate skin to skin contact with their mothers showed increased interaction, stayed warmer without the addition of heat lamps, cried less, were more likely to be breastfed and were breastfed for a longer duration.
Of course there are situations were immediate breastfeeding is delayed (c-section, complications, drowsy newborn, etc…) and in these cases breastfeeding should be initiated as soon as it is medically possible and both mom and baby are ready. Ongoing skin to skin contact should be continued as much as possible in these early days of babies life to facilitate bonding and a successful breastfeeding relationship.
* This post is part of a Breastfeeding Basics series. Click here if you missed Part 1 *
5 COMMENTS
Jess
13 years agoGreat post heather. I can definitely relate and I love this series you are doing.
Mary
13 years agoSo very true! With my first we were able to nurse within the first hour. When my second was born due to complications with his breathing he was taken to the nursery for an hour and a half. That time was very important because he had no desire to latch on upon return. We struggled for 16 hours to rise interest. It was a precursor to our success later on. However, we conquered all of our difficulties and he is growing strong at 20 pounds at only 6 months of age :) Great post! Skin to skin is so great! And very, very, very, special!! I have such great skin to skin bonding memories. Even with hubby, baby, and I snuggling in the bed all skin to skin. Just amazing!!
Emily Eling
13 years agoI loved being able to nurse shortly after my son was born. He is now 10 months and breastfeeding is going strong!